Bog će sačuvati svoj narod
1Ugledam zatim četiri anđela kako stoje na četirima krajevima zemlje zadržavajući četiri vjetra da ne zapušu ni zemljom, ni morem, ni kojim drvetom. 2Ugledam zatim još jednog anđela kako dolazi s istoka noseći pečat živoga Boga. On glasno dovikne četvorici anđela koji su dobili vlast da naude zemlji i moru: 3“Čekajte! Ne udite ni zemlji, ni moru, ni drveću dok ne stavimo pečat na čelo slugama našega Boga!”
4Čuo sam koliko ih je opečaćeno: sto četrdeset četiri tisuće iz svih dvanaest izraelskih plemena:
5iz Judina plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Rubenova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Gadova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
6iz Ašerova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Naftalijeva plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Manašeova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
7iz Šimunova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Levijeva plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Jisakarova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
8iz Zebulonova plemena dvanaest tisuća,
iz Josipova plemena dvanaest tisuća
i iz Benjaminova dvanaest tisuća.
Slavljenje golemog mnoštva
9Ugledam zatim veliko, neizbrojivo mnoštvo iz svakoga naroda i plemena, puka i jezika, kako stoji ispred prijestolja i ispred Jaganjca u bijelim haljinama, s palmama u rukama. 10Glasno viču: “Spasenje je djelo našega Boga, koji sjedi na prijestolju, i Jaganjca!”
11Svi anđeli koji su stajali oko prijestolja, starješina i četiriju bića padnu ničice pred prijestoljem, licem prema zemlji, 12te se poklone Bogu govoreći:
“Amen! Blagoslov i slava,
i mudrost,
i hvala i čast,
i moć i sila
pripadaju našemu Bogu
u vijeke vjekova. Amen.”
13Jedan od starješina me upita: “Znaš li tko su ti odjeveni u bijele haljine i odakle dolaze?”
14“Ne znam, gospodine”, odgovorim. “Ti znaš.”
“To su oni koji dolaze iz velike nevolje. Oprali su svoje haljine u Jaganjčevoj krvi i ubijelili ih. 15Zato stoje pred Božjim prijestoljem i danonoćno mu služe u hramu. Onaj koji sjedi na prijestolju živjet će s njima i zakriliti ih. 16Nikad više neće biti gladni ni žedni, neće ih više moriti sunce ni žega. 17Jer Jaganjac koji stoji ispred prijestolja bit će im Pastir. Vodit će ih na izvore vode života. Bog će otrti svaku suzu s njihovih očiju.”
144,000 sealed
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The great multitude in white robes
9After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’
11All the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12saying:
‘Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honour
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!’
13Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’
14I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’
And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
‘they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16“Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,”7:16 Isaiah 49:10
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the centre of the throne
will be their shepherd;
“he will lead them to springs of living water.”7:17 Isaiah 49:10
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”7:17 Isaiah 25:8’
